A TEENAGER from Coventry hanged himself in a youth prison while on suicide watch, an inquest jury has heard.

Anthony Redding, aged 16, had tied a ligature around his neck on four separate occasions before he was discovered hanged in Brinsford Young Offenders? Institution near Wolverhampton.

The inquest at Stafford Crown Court yesterday heard how the teenager, of George Robertson Close, Binley, had been on a five-minute suicide watch in the hospital wing when he was found on February 14. He died from asphyxiation a day later.

Anthony?s mother, Helen Redding, told the inquest how on her last visit on February 8, he described hearing his dead grandmother?s voice.

Mrs Redding said: ?Anthony was very tearful and stated that he had heard voices in his head. He said ?You are never going to believe this, it?s Nan.? She had passed away three years ago and Anthony was extremely close to her. The voice had told him to come to her. This made me very upset and very concerned for Anthony.?

Mrs Redding, who with her husband Anthony has two daughters, said she had repeatedly telephoned Brinsford to tell staff about the voices and the suicide risk, but was told he was all right.

Anthony, who had been taken out of school because of bullying and fallen into car crime, was frightened about returning to custody, Mrs Redding added.

He had already tried to kill himself four times after he was sentenced at Coventry Magistrates Court on January 25.

A prison file recorded that Anthony, serving four months for motoring offences, was likely to harm himself. Although this file was open to all staff, his medical file - holding notes about the voices - was only open to nursing staff.

Peter Wetherby, representing the family, suggested this was an ?important omission? and questioned Brinsford?s policy not to take notes of family phone calls following Mrs Redding?s repeated concerns.

Phillip Wragg, deputy governor of Brinsford, said a suicide prevention team had been set up at the 500-inmate institution.